Market Me Consulting increased enrollment in an early childhood education program by 25% by combining targeted social media advertising, community-based outreach, and culturally relevant messaging focused on Black and Latina women in Washington, DC. A multi-channel strategy, supported by A/B testing, transit ads, and community partnerships, helped simplify the message and drive action.

Results at a Glance

25% increase in program enrollment
3.8% average click-through rate (CTR) (vs. 2% benchmark) on social media advertising

Client Overview

The Advancing Early Education Collaborative (AEEC) is a Washington, DC-based initiative led by American University, Trinity Washington University, Martha’s Table, and LIFT-DC.

The program focuses on increasing career access for Black and Latina women in early childhood education by providing:

Scholarships and CDA credential pathways
Wraparound support services
Career advancement opportunities

Despite the program's strong value, AEEC needed help to clearly communicate these benefits and reach the right audience.

What Was the Challenge?

AEEC faced three key barriers:

Fragmented messaging that made the program difficult to understand
Limited reach from previous marketing efforts
Difficulty connecting with Black and Latina women in Wards 7 and 8

The goal was clear: Increase awareness, drive applications, and boost enrollment.

What Marketing Strategies Increased Enrollment

Market Me Consulting implemented a multi-channel, data-driven marketing strategy designed to simplify messaging and meet the audience where they are.

1. Simplified, Outcome-Driven Messaging

We translated a complex program into a clear, compelling value: “Grow Your Early Childhood Education Career”. This message became the foundation across all channels.

2. Targeted Digital Advertising + A/B Testing

Launched Facebook and Instagram campaigns targeting qualified audiences
Tested multiple creative concepts and headlines
Identified top-performing ads and scaled them

👉 Result:
Winning creative improved CTR by +24%, then an additional +8% through continued optimization

3. Multi-Channel Campaign Execution

We extended high-performing messaging across:

Paid social media
Transit ads (Metrobus routes in target communities)
Local newspapers
Printed flyers and postcards
Email marketing

QR codes were used across offline materials to track engagement and conversions.

4. Community-Based Outreach Strategy

To build trust and expand reach, we:

Partnered with local organizations and community leaders
Developed a Partner Marketing Toolkit with ready-to-use assets
Supported in-person events, tabling, and panels

This ensured consistent messaging across trusted community channels.

5. Continuous Optimization & Reporting

Weekly performance tracking
Monthly reporting and insights
Ongoing creative and media adjustments

This allowed us to continuously improve results throughout the campaign.

Why Did This Campaign Succeed?

This campaign worked because it combined strategy, cultural relevance, and execution discipline.

Key drivers of success:

Simplicity wins: Clear messaging outperformed complex explanations
Test before scale: Digital testing informed broader campaign rollout
Community trust matters: Partnerships increased credibility and reach
Multi-touch engagement: Repetition across channels drove action

How Do You Increase Enrollment in Education Programs?

Based on this campaign, here is a proven framework:

Clearly define and segment your target audience
Simplify your message into a single, compelling value proposition
Test messaging through digital channels
Scale top-performing creative across multiple platforms
Partner with trusted community organizations
Track performance and optimize continuously

What Were the Results?

Quantitative Impact

25% increase in program enrollment
3.8% CTR on top-performing ads (well above industry benchmarks)
Increased traffic and completions of intake forms

Qualitative Impact

Strong feedback on clarity and professionalism of materials
Increased community awareness and engagement
Expanded partnership opportunities

Who This Approach Works For

This strategy is especially effective for:

Government agencies
Nonprofits
Education and workforce development programs
Organizations trying to reach underserved communities

Key Services Provided

Marketing Strategy Development
Audience Research & Messaging
Paid Digital Advertising
Community Outreach Strategy
Creative Development
Media Planning & Buying
Campaign Analytics & Optimization

FAQ

Nonprofits can increase enrollment by combining targeted digital marketing, simplified messaging, and community-based outreach strategies that build trust and awareness.
A community-based marketing strategy focuses on reaching audiences through trusted local partners, culturally relevant messaging, and on-the-ground engagement.
A mix of paid social media, transit advertising, local media, and community partnerships is most effective.

Let’s Build What’s Next

Looking to increase awareness, engagement, or enrollment for your program?

Contact us if you need help creating a marketing and communications strategy for your government agency or nonprofit.

Read our other case studies to learn how we have helped purpose-driven organizations.

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